Bearsted 1-5 Faversham Town - We played alright, we didn't play brilliantly, we played ok. I'm not going to look too much into it, of course there's loads we can do better, says unbeaten Faversham Town boss Tommy Warrilow

Bearsted 1 – 5 Faversham Town
Location	Otham Sports Ground, Honey Lane, Otham, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8RG
Kickoff	24/09/2024 19:30

BEARSTED  1-5  FAVERSHAM TOWN
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Tuesday 24 September 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Honey Lane

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Tommy Warrilow says his unbeaten side put in a good, solid professional performance and have just come away with three big points at Bearsted.

 

The Lilywhites are now in second-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 20 points (six wins and two draws) from their eight games, while Kevin Stevens’ Bearsted are in 12^th place with 11 points (three wins, two draws, three defeats).

Faversham Town striker Johan Caney-Bryan headed in his sixth goal of the season but their lead only lasted 159 seconds before Bearsted’s target-man Connor French also notched his sixth goal.

Faversham Town right-winger Nathan Wood, 25, scored the Goal of the Season with a sublime 35-yard strike with the outside of his right-boot, before holding midfielder Sam Hasler tucked home a penalty to give Warrilow’s side a 3-1 lead inside 41 minutes.

Wood produced a clinical counter-attacking goal to put Faversham Town 4-1 up (also scoring his sixth goal of the season) before Stefan Payne came off the bench to score a late header from a set-piece.

“Really pleased, good professional performance.  They move the ball about well but we’ve been patient. We’ve found our way at the end and I thought in the second half we were quite comfortable to be honest,” said Warrilow.

“They’ve (Bearsted) knocked it around a little bit but didn’t cause us as many problems (in the second) half – but we’ve been clinical when we’ve had our chances as well.”

Bearsted manager Kevin Stevens sent out his assistant manager Stephen Sage for post-match media duties.

Bearsted's results for games being covered by this website since the start of last season:

Saturday 19 August 2023- FA Cup Preliminary Round - Bearsted 1-2 Southall
Tuesday 10 October 2023 - League - Bearsted 1-2 Faversham Town
Saturday 9 December 2023 - League - Fisher 1-0 Bearsted
Saturday 6 January 2024 - League - Bearsted 4-1 Punjab United
Tuesday 20 February 2024 - League - Bearsted 0-2 Glebe
Monday 1 April 2024 - League - Snodland Town 2-0 Bearsted
Tuesday 16 April 2024 - League - Bearsted 2-0 Sutton Athletic
Saturday 20 April 2024 - League - Rusthall 2-0 Bearsted
Monday 22 April 2024 - League - Tunbridge Wells 1-1 Bearsted
Tuesday 24 September 2024 - League - Bearsted 1-5 Faversham Town


“Tough one to take to be honest.  For an hour I thought we were very good. I think we caused them problems at times.  Probably going in 3-1 down at half-time flattered them. We felt that was slightly harsh on us,” said Sage.

“At the end of the game, the last 15-20 minutes, we capitulated a little bit. To me on the sidelines we gave up a little bit.

“We’ve just asked the boys at the end what do they feel and they kind of said the quality that Faversham have got, the experience that they’ve got, the way that they slowed the game down at times.  They changed the shape when they needed to, when they were under the cosh.

“There’s a few things from them tonight that we can take away into us for the remainder of the season.”

Both Sage and Warrilow were asked what their game plans were for this very watchable game.

Sage said: “We’ve done some homework on them.  We knew the formation that they might play.  Without giving too much away, we knew that they would go with a back four. We knew the midfield boys would rotate and we set up a game plan to kind of neutralise that.  We also said to the boys about keeping the ball a lot more.  We pride ourselves on keeping the ball, especially on the surface that we’ve got.

“The formation that they played in midfield with the diamond and the box, I thought for probably 35 minutes in the first half we dealt with that really well and they changed shape with the sinbin and it took us a little while to work that out and then they came out second half, they changed their shape and we struggled to deal with that.”

Warrilow added:  “To frustrate them, to keep our discipline and just basically get out and impose ourselves on them more and I thought second half we did.

“Listen, they knock it about well. It’s the final balls that we were looking at.  For us, did we play well tonight? We played alright. We didn’t play brilliantly, we played ok. We done enough to win the game but again this is me being critical of the side because we just beat a team 5-1 that are a good side.

“I’m not going to look too much into it, of course there’s loads we can do better but if I’m sitting here saying that after a 5-1 win every week, I’ll take it.”

Bearsted almost grabbed the lead after 179 seconds when left-winger Jason Banton cut inside Faversham Town’s holding midfielder Frannie Colin before playing the ball along the pristine playing surface to Jesse Darko, who put in a cross, which bounced off the head of Faversham centre-half Matthew Newman and bounced just past the foot of his own post.

“It was almost like the ball was in slow-mo. We were kind of hoping and praying it was going to roll in because if that goes in with three minutes on the clock, it’s a great start and it could’ve potentially have been a bit of a different game,” said Sage.

Faversham Town went up the other end and scored from their first opening, with eight minutes and 10 seconds on the clock.

Hasler used the outside of his right-boot to switch the ball out to Ben Gorham, who was playing at right-back and he had time and space to whip in a cross towards the middle where Caney-Bryan was left in space to head down and into the bottom left-hand corner.

“It’s a great move, good football. We switched the play. Ben Gorham’s been outstanding for me and he’s put a quality ball in and Johan’s finished it with a fantastic header, so it was a really good start,” said Warrilow.

Sage said: “We’re disappointed with that to be honest. We could’ve maybe done slightly better to get out slightly earlier to stop the cross initially.  We felt it was a free header.  The two centre-halves maybe could’ve done a little bit better.

“We lacked a little bit of height and physicality tonight. I don’t want to make excuses because we’ve got two centre-halves out, Ryan Blake, our captain and Fraser Daniel’s who we’ve brought in from Sutton Athletic.

“Both are injured. The amount of games that they’ve played, they’ve started to break down.  There in a little bit of the season where we’ve done the odd Saturday-Tuesday and we’re missing a couple of boys in midfield, so we lacked a little bit of physicality and I think that showed a little bit tonight as well.  We lost quite a lot of the second balls in midfield and stuff like that.”

However, Bearsted restored parity with 10 minutes and 49 seconds on the clock.

Bearsted centre-half Marvin Okundalaiye and Faversham winger Kieron Campbell both took it in terms to lose the ball inside Bearsted’s half before right-back Dennis Agbudume put over a cross.

French latched onto the pass and dinked the ball over the advancing Jacob Russell and rushed towards the goal-line to knock the ball down with his head and had two or three attempts to put the ball into the empty net, which he did at the back post, hooking his left-footed half-volley over the line, just in the nick of time.

“I know we’re laughing and joking about we thought he over-cooked it and done too much and I thought it was a real touch of class,” said Sage.

“I thought Connor played really well first half. He had a quiet second half but that’s when we weren’t as great with the ball and things like that but I thought he occupied (their defenders).  He’s your typical old-school nine and likes to get into that kind of physical battel and I thought he took his goal really well.”

Warrilow added: “Again, we gave the ball away cheaply for that but fair play to Connor.  I’ve had Connor (play for me previously), he’s a good lad. He was lively tonight as well and he’s finished it but disappointing it was so quick after the goal but again it was a great reaction from us to get back and get the second and third.”

Gorham played the ball down the line to release Caney-Bryan down the right-channel and the ball came out to Hasler, who lashed his left-footed half-volley over the crossbar from 25-yards.

Wood scored Goal of the Season with 19 minutes and 4 seconds on the clock and not many footballers in the ninth-tier of English football could execute such a sublime, quality strike. 

Banton showed his frustration ahead of a throw-in from Bearsted’s left-back James Nurden, who opted to throw it short towards central midfielder Robbie Roberts, who slipped over and Caney-Bryan played the ball into Wood.

The pacey winger cut in from the right and produced a WOW moment that was more Premier League class.

Wood cut in from the right and into the centre of the pitch and produced a sublime 35-yard curling shot with the outside of his right-boot, which nestled into the bottom far (left) hand corner of the goal.

“Listen, we’ve pressed and nicked the ball and Woody’s run and just outside of his foot. We were right behind it.  Woody’s full of confidence at the moment, he’s scoring goals and it’s good to see because he was putting a bit of pressure on himself really but he’s come back, he is relaxed and him and KC (Kieran Campbell) have been causing all sorts of problems week-in-week-out,” said Warrilow.

When asked whether it should be classed Goal of the Season, Warrilow replied: “Unbelievable! It’s got to be up there. I’m so pleased for Woody. It’s his overall game, his work-rate.”

Sage also admired the finish from Wood, who should be attracting plenty of attention from scouts of higher-league clubs with his early season form.

“Absolutely great strike. I’ve got to say he’s probably one of the best, I think I’ve seen at this level. I’ve been around Bearsted for a long time. That boy is a talent, he’s lightening quick and cut across his goal, bent it with the outside of his right foot.

“We’re standing on the sideline and Frankie’s just stood there. Can he do better? But I think when we watch it back and it’s a hell of a strike!”

Gorham played the ball down the line to Caney-Bryan down the right-channel and he reversed a pass into Hasler, who played a 30-yard inside pass along the deck to Campbell, whose right-footed drive was parried by Leonard and an offside flag was raised by assistant referee Christopher Bowdery after Gorham recycled the ball back into the box.

When Warrilow asked Mr Bowdery why Wood was sin-binned in the aftermath (33:36-45:48), the official claimed Wood called him a “stupid tw*t.”

“You were standing between the dug-outs so you’ve heard what’s been going on throughout the game, but it’s just getting silly now regarding whoever shouts the most seems to get stuff on the pitch,” claimed Warrilow.

“I thought the ref was alright to be honest.  You can talk to the ref and everything but it was just getting a little bit frustrating at the end, so I’m pleased we kept our discipline, even though we had Woody sin-binned, which is really harsh.  What he said to the linesman, he’s not even sworn at him but unfortunately that’s the world we live in now.”

Sage added: “I’m not quite sure what happened.  Frankie’s come out and been brave. He’s not had a lot to do tonight, which sounds silly when we’ve conceded five goals. That shows how clinical Faversham have been.”

Collin, who partnered Caney-Bryan in attack with seven-goal Tashi-Jay Kwayie playing in behind the pair, dropped into a holding midfield role while the Lilywhites were reduced to 10 men on the pitch.

Referee Stephen Ryan awarded Faversham Town a soft penalty - after Bearsted centre-half Daniel Melvin was adjuged to have fouled Kwayie just inside the centre of the penalty area - which Hasler clinically sent his left-footed penalty just left of centre, sending Leonard the wrong way, as Faversham Town raced into a 3-1 lead with 40:40 on the clock.

“I thought the penalty was probably harsh,” admitted Warrilow.

“They didn’t give the penalty for the incident with Woody, he’s probably given that, I don’t know. He’s got a touch on it but where we are, you can’t really tell but the ref’s right on top of it, so we’ll take that. 

“Has very rarely misses a penalty, which is the kiss of death.”

Sage said: “We felt it was slightly soft in terms of the penalty earlier on in the first half where its kind of similar, the referee waved it away.  We felt it was a little bit soft. The boys feel a little bit aggrieved.  The referee’s given it and they’ve tucked it away. It just shows another chance of them being clinical.”

Reflecting on their half-time thoughts, Sage said: “We were happy, we were happy. We were disappointed that we were 3-1 down.  We thought we played really well.

“We came with a game plan tonight and we thought that in terms of the shape and the formation that they were playing, the boys stuck to that.

“I thought we were well in the game at half-time and we said to the boys about keep doing the right things and keep doing what we were doing.”

Warrilow added: “Just be more disciplined, frustrate them but when we get the ball, just break in numbers and just stop giving the ball away. I thought we gave the ball away cheaply at times.”

Bearsted goalkeeper Leonard was called into making a save after only 58 seconds into the second half.

Left-back Bradley Simms cut the ball back to Hasler, who pinged a first-time cross from the left which was sailing towards the top far corner from 35-yards, only for the goalkeeper to palm the ball around the post, high to his left.

Simms launched the first of his four long throws into the box and centre-half Callum Davies flicked his header past the near-post.

Wood drove at the Bearsted defence at pace before cutting into the box and crossing low towards the near-post for Caney-Bryan, who stabbed his shot past the near-post.

Bearsted played some eye-catching football tonight and created a good chance with seven minutes and 27 seconds into the half.

Holding midfielder Jack Palmby and Darko linked up well in the final third before the ball was worked to now striker Roberts, who found space just inside the box, took a touch before curling his right-footed shot towards the far corner, only for Russell to dive to his left to tip the ball around his post.

“I think he miss-kicked the first one didn’t he, which afforded him a little bit more time and a good save from Jacob in goal to tip it around the post,” said Sage.

“It’s moments like that tonight, moments from Faversham, they’ve been clinical and put them away.  We’re huffing and puffing and unfortunately, it’s not gone in for us.”

Warrilow said: “When Jacob’s been called upon, he does what he does. We know what Jacob can do. He’s the best goalie in this league by a country mile and he’s grown in confidence now since he first came in, so we know what we’re going to get from Jacob and tonight when he was called upon, he was good.”

Bearsted created an opening in the 54^th minute when French ran the right-channel and cut the ball back for Sam Stace, who cut the ball onto his left-foot before his 20-yard effort was comfortably saved by Jacob Russell in his midriff.

“Our combinations especially up until the first hour we were really good and they nullified us quite well within the last half-an-hour.  I think that’s their experience showed through and that’s something that I feel like we have to take away for the remainder of the season,” added Sage.

A poor clearance from Leonard was hit first time by Kwayie some 35-yards out, but the Bearsted keeper comfortably controlled the ball with his feet untroubled.

“He’s rushed it hasn’t he.  He’s just got to have a touch and perhaps he could’ve had a little bit more. You could see what he was trying to do but unfortunately he didn’t get no lift on it,” added Warrilow.

The physically strong French drew a foul out of Davies and Roberts produced a quality left-footed free-kick towards the far post from 35-yards into the corridor of uncertainty and Russell got down low to his right to hold onto the ball.

Faversham Town hit their hosts on the counter-attack as they notched their fourth goal of the night with 22 minutes and 35 seconds on the clock.

Collin threaded a 30-yard diagonal pass along the deck to release Wood, who burst past Nurden and cut inside before firing his left-footed shot into the bottom near-corner from 16-yards on the angle, pleasing Warrilow.

“That’s what I mean, Woody’s on (hesitating, meaning, on fire).  His confidence is up, he’s got in, drove at the lad, cut in and finished it with his other foot, so a perfect goal for him.

“He’s enjoying his football, he’s not put a lot of pressure on himself now and he’s performing how he should be, so I’m pleased for him because he’s a really good kid and he deserves it.”

Sage added: “It came from our set-piece and we were on the break, gave a poor pass away in the final third. 

“Fran’s been around a long time, plays the ball in the channel. We knew that was going to be a threat. That was part of the game plan that we know that Tashi-Jay Kwayie and Nathan Wood run the channels well.  The boy has got lightning pace and he’s beaten us. We can’t get round the ball quick enough and a really good finish down at Frankie’s near-post.”

Bearsted substitute right-back Sam Flisher released Darko down the right, who put the ball into the box, which was controlled by now striker Roberts and his left-footed rasping drive was comfortably caught by Russell above his head.

Stevens threw on Sevenoaks Town loanee, debutant Michael Hagan and he played wide left, with French in the middle and Darko out on the right but Faversham’s well-oiled back four of Simms, Davies, Newman and Gorham did give away chances.

Darko got in behind Simms down the right-channel and he cut the ball back for Flisher to sweep a first-time shot at the near-post, which was saved low by Russell in the final 20 minutes.

Faversham Town put their chances away tonight, Bearsted didn’t.

“You’ve hit the nail on the head. We’ve had moments tonight. We’ve had combinations, we’ve got in and around the back and we’ve hurt them. Difference being is we haven’t put the ball in the back of the net and unfortunately that’s what they’ve done to us,” admitted Sage.

Title-favourites Faversham Town sealed the deal by scoring their fifth goal, timed at 42 minutes and 4 seconds following a set-piece from within the left-channel.

Collin floated a right-footed delivery into the penalty area where an unmarked Payne glanced his header across the keeper to find the far corner from six-yards.

Warrilow said: “I mean, a great free-kick and this is what we’ve been saying, working on more corners and set-pieces and I’m pleased for Paynie because he’s been patient. We’re trying to get him back to fitness after a long injury and I’m pleased that he’s got a goal tonight.”

Sage added: “Again, we’re slightly disappointed with that. We’ve done quite a lot of work into our set-pieces. We were one of the best defensive records in the league last year.  My personal frustration with the boys tonight, especially with that goal, is why we haven’t set up as we would do for a corner?!

“We spend a lot of time on the training ground about defending crosses and set-pieces and for me that’s no different how a corner should’ve been. We weren’t set up correctly and you can’t give someone like Stefan Payne a free header in the box!”

Simms threw the ball short to Campbell, who cracked a right-footed dipping volley towards the top left-hand corner from 35-yards, which was clawed out by Leonard high above his head and managed to gather at the third attempt after a spell of juggling on his goal-line.

Bearsted created the final chance when good link-up play down the left involving sub Tyresse Kamara and Nurden resulted in Kamara hitting a deep cross towards the back post.  Flisher jumped above Tariq Ossai and steered his header just past the post.

VCD Athletic remain at the summit with 26 points from 10 games, being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Holmesdale in a top-of-the-table clash at Oakwood.

The play-offs currently contain Faversham Town, Holmesdale (19 points from 12 games), Larkfield & New Hythe (16 points from eight) and Punjab United (16 points from eight).

Fisher are in sixth-place (15 points from 10), Erith & Belvedere (15 points from 10), Tunbridge Wells (14 points from 11), Whitstable Town (14 points from 10), Lordswood (13 points from eight), Snodland Town (12 points from nine) and Bearsted.

“Listen, there’s loads of bits we can work on. We know that but at the moment we’re chalking off some really good results,” said Warrilow.

“Bearsted are a good team. I think they’re going to be up there or there abouts at the end of the season.  They’ve brought some experienced, good players in to blend with the players they already had here so you can see they’re organised, so it’s just a case of trying to nullify it and when you do get your chances, take them.

“We’ve played a good team here tonight and we’ve won 5-1, so that’s the most pleasing thing for me.”

Faversham Town welcome 13^th placed side Corinthian (three wins, one draw, two defeats) to Salters Lane on Saturday.

Michael Golding’s side beat the Lilywhites on penalties in the Play-Off Semi-Final last season but lost to Erith Town 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Final.

“Just going to be another tough one, a completely different game to what we’ve had tonight,” said Warrilow, who substituted Hasler (calf) and Wood because they were both on a yellow card.

“We know each other quite well so just another battle and we’ll have to dig in. We’ll be in Thursday going through some bits and we’ll prepare for them.”

When asked about being six points behind the league leaders but with two games in hand on VCD Athletic tonight, Warrilow replied: “It’s alright. It doesn’t mean nothing at the moment but I’d rather be up there as we are than anywhere down the bottom. 

“You’ve seen some of the results thrown up tonight and we could’ve quite easily have been on the end of that but we’ve put a good, solid professional performance in and we’ve come away with three big points.”

Sage demands a reaction away to third-from-bottom side Glebe (two wins, one draw, five defeats) on Saturday.

Fred Dillon’s side were knocked out of The FA Vase in the Second Qualifying Round on Saturday, losing 2-0 at Tunbridge Wells at Culverden Stadium.

Sage said: “We want to bounce back. We keep saying to the boys, we feel we can go on a run of four or five games. A big thing for us is getting people back but we go away to Glebe – that will be tough, that will always be tough.

“We’ll go there with a game plan and hopefully to bounce back and get a run of games going again, move up the league and stay in contention.

“We’ve got the bonus of the Vase (a trip to Combined Counties League Division One side Yateley United on 19 October), which is always nice to be in. We’ve always said to the boys we want to stay in that competition and have a Vase game every month and hopefully build on things.”

Bearsted enjoyed their best season last time out, finishing in seventh-place with their highest number of points (72), finishing seven points adrift of the play-offs.

“We’re a little bit way off where we want to be. We’re a little bit way off what we want to achieve this year.  I still feel it’s early days. I think we’re in and around contention. We’ve played some of the teams that we feel might be competing at where we want to be at the end of the season.

“We’ve picked up some good results.  We’re still in the Vase. We’re a little bit behind where we want to be. We’ll probably say we’re a month behind where we want to be. We’re just hoping to have players back and build on a run and hopefully we can get that confidence back and hopefully move higher up the table and be where we want to be at the end of the season.”

For last season's runners-up, Faversham Town stamped their authority and showed why they are expected to land the league title in April.

Bearsted: Frankie Leonard, Dennis Agbudume (Sam Flisher 59), James Nurden, Jack Palmby, Marvin Okundalaiye, Daniel Melvin, Jason Banton (Michael Hagan 69), Sam Stace (Billy Lewins 74), Connor French (Tyresse Kamara 82), Robbie Roberts (Eniola Hassan 74), Jesse Darko.

Goal:  Connor French 11

Booked: Eniola Hassan 89, Billy Lewins 90

Faversham Town: Jacob Russell, Ben Gorham, Bradley Simms, Sam Hasler (Tariq Ossai 62), Callum Davies, Matthew Newman, Kieron Campbell, Tashi-Jay Kwayie (Billy Bennett 76), Frannie Collin, Johan Caney-Bryan (Stefan Payne 73), Nathan Wood (Ian Draycott 80).
Sub: Daniel Thompson

Goals: Johan Caney-Bryan 9, Nathan Wood 20, 68, Sam Hasler 41 (penalty), Stefan Payne 88

Temporary Dismissal:  Nathan Wood 34

Booked:  Sam Hasler 26

Attendance: 129
Referee: Mr Stephen Ryan
Assistants: Mr Christopher Bowdery & Mr Kayden Abnett